Where 's this mago come from?

Cyril · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 7:16 pm

In my last trip in Arnhem Land I find this mago on the road to Katherine Gorge.
There were a lot of cracks and I couldn't play it .. after my return to Ski Beach I repaired it with Bob Druett and Zzie at Darwin ..
I want to know more about this sticks because I find it's a very good mago. the key is F for a length 1.12m / distal end 11cm .
There is sugar bag on the mouthpiece as the big patchs on the bell and near the mouthpiece ...
Do you know something about the painting perhaps the area, the maker, the clan, about the date ..?

Cyril · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 7:18 pm

the mouthpiece with the sugar bag patchs

Cyril · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 7:19 pm

The painting on the middle

Cyril · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 7:21 pm

The bell with his sugar bag patch

kdidj · **Joined:** Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:03 am **Posts:** 370

The paneled decoration leads me to think it's from the Katherine area and it appears to be painted in acrylic which would back up my original thoughts. It's hard to tell how old this would be, but I'd hazzard a guess that it's at most about 15 years old. Maybe Guan has a better idea.

Cyril · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:12 am

Thanks You Kyle...
It's normal it comes Katherine as I found near Katherine Gorge. I confirm , the painting is acrylic ... So this indicates that it isn't very old butI suppose it has been much used because there 're sugar bag patchs everywhere ...

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 11:24 am

Hi Cyril,

I reckon it is a Galpu 'mago', there are a number of Gurruwiwi boys living in the Katherine area. I don't think it is more than 5 years old.

Hope that helps!

Guan

Cyril · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:06 pm

Is it the olive pynthon painting on the end ?... I still think he has more than 5 years of age but not much older because I have found damaged...

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 11:42 pm

Cyril wrote:

Is it the olive pynthon painting on the end ?... I still think he has more than 5 years of age but not much older because I have found damaged...

I reckon so, those dots are a tell-tale sign of Wititj, or perhaps Djaykung (Javan File Snake). Some of the Gurruwiwi lads in Katherine used to have a dance group which performed for tourists, I bet this is one of their instruments.

Guan

Cyril · **Posted:** Sun Feb 01, 2009 4:14 am

Thank's Guan..
But do you know why they play on a mago and not on yidaki if they 're Galpu?

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:49 am

Cyril wrote:

Thank's Guan..
But do you know why they play on a mago and not on yidaki if they 're Galpu?

I don't know but my guess is because they've stayed in Katherine that long that it becomes second nature to make and play mago. A bit like Dh*g*r*n who is Ritharrngu and who should have made yidaki but I've only ever seen him make mago instruments in his lifetime. The reason being that he stayed in Beswick, a long way from his homeland.

Guan

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Where 's this mago come from?

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